By now you’ve probably read dozens of Labor Day guides, ranging from resort deals to, um, resort deals. However, we’d like to suggest something a little different, a little more wine-centric. Yes, steer your SUV to Cornville, AZ and soak in the Page Springs Cellars’ Fifth Annual Harvest Festival. Hosted on Sunday, September 5, this grape-head gathering celebrates the end of the summer growing season at this boutique AZ winery located near Cottonwood, about a two-hour drive north of the Valley.

This verdant stretch known as the Verde Valley is actually home to eight wineries, and is one of Arizona’s three main wine regions. The others are near Wilcox in the far SE corner of the state, and AZ’s original wine-o-topia, Sonoita/Elgin south of Tucson, where unfortunately, a freak hailstorm has all but wiped out this year’s crops. (But fear not, the affected wineries will be importing grapes from Wilcox and beyond to create the 2011 vintage, and there’s still plenty of earlier vintages available for your sipping pleasure.)

Anywho, at Page Spring, look for a music- and food-filled festival hosted on the winery’s scenic lower vineyard next to a babbling brook. Headliners include the Seattle-based pop-meets-Reggae band, Luc and the Lovingtons, as well as California singer/songwriter Alisa Fineman. Kid-friendly activities include hay rides and hay bale mazes, and there are also reservation-required camping spots. Which is a probably good idea considering there will be plenty of Page Springs Cellars wines a’pouring.  Gates open at 3:30 pm, and pre-order tix are $30 for Page Springs Cellars wine club members, $40 for the general public ($10 more day of show), kids under 12 get in free.